Australia secure hat-trick of World T20 titles

DHAKA: Australia defeated England by four wickets to win the Women’s World Twenty20 for the third time in a row here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium Mirpur on Sunday.

Chasing 106, Aussies easily completed the victory with 29 balls remaining with the help of a brilliant 44 by their skipper Meg Lanning who became the leading run-scorer in the tournament.

Lanning was well supported by Ellyse Perry who made an unbeated 31 and both added 60 runs for the third wicket partnership.

Earlier, Australian women won the toss and, putting English women into bat, restricted them to 105 runs for eight wickets in the 20 overs, then quickly put themselves ahead of the rate in the chase.

English women could not resist against an accurate Aussie bowling, led by pacer Sarah Coyte who was later named Player of the Match.

Heather Knight top scored with 29 as only three other batswomen could get into double figures.

Coyte captured three wickets for 16 runs while her pace partners Perry and Rene Farrell claimed two wickets each for 13 and 27 respectively.

England’s Anya Shrubsole was declared the Player of the Series.